Overview

In order to create safe church communities, ministers must set boundaries with their pastoral leadership. Joy Melton seeks to help clergy maintain the integrity of discipleship.

During the last five years, Melton has seen an increasing number of cases in which clergy misappropriated church funds or where clergy violated matters of trust that normally exist between pastor and people. Melton has worked with a number of annual conferences to deal with cases of clergy misconduct, and has become aware of the need to educate clergy concerning basics of ethical practice within their roles in the church, as well as to help them become aware of the potential traps they face: isolation, improper self-care, and lack of accountability.

Safe Sanctuaries for Ministers explores three large areas of special concern to clergy and church:

Counseling and the potential improprieties within the counseling relationship

Finances and the potential improprieties related to church finance

Sexuality and potential for sexual misconduct.

By exploring the connection between various areas of boundary violations, including that which occurs between financial and personal relationships, Melton seeks to help clergy balance leadership, integrity, and accountability in all that ministers do today.